Measuring intercultural sensitivity of Thai university students: Impact of their participation in the US summer work travel program

Abstract

As we are now approaching the first quarter of the 21st century, the impact of globalisation has increased the importance of intercultural competence. This study aims to measure the degree of intercultural sensitivity of 30 English major students who have participated in the US Work Travel program. In this study, an online survey adopted from Chen and Starosta (2000)’s Five-Factor Model of Intercultural Sensitivity was used to collect the data. Although participants were English majors who had high level of English proficiency, the level of their intercultural sensitivity was not high enough to claim that it resulted from the program. In addition, they reported not to have much confidence and motivation to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, the program might not actually benefit and help Thai students to develop intercultural skills, the skills needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. It is hoped that this study could be useful for teachers, or even parents, to decide whether or not, they would support the students to participate in the program in the future.